1990 Annual Report for LS90-023
A Mid-South Conference on LISA-Related Agroforestry Practices and Policies
Summary
Agroforestry systems offer farmers practical land-use alternatives for marginal agricultural lands beyond high-input agriculture and low-output forestry systems. Agroforestry technologies help farmers diversify production, improve ecological sustainability, and increase economic productivity. Agroforestry concepts and practices need to be encouraged in the mid-South as part of mainstream agricultural practice, research, and extension.
To accomplish this, Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development convened a 3-day conference in October 1990 on agroforestry practices and policies for the mid-South states. The conference will bring together innovative farmers, researchers, and extension personnel from public and private institutions in the mid-South to discuss opportunities and mechanisms for strengthening LISA-related agroforestry strategies by agricultural extension and forestry landowner assistance agencies. Participants will share state-of-the-art agroforestry information and examine policies for encouraging development and adoption of LISA-compatible agroforestry technologies and programs.
The conference will result in the establishment of a mid-South Agroforestry Network, and the published conference proceedings will contain the most current available information on agroforestry technologies, research, and extension activities within the mid-South states. A regional directory of practitioners and researchers in agroforestry and related activities will also be prepared. Both the conference proceedings and directory will be distributed to participants and to state, federal, and private organizations.
Objectives
Winrock International proposes to plan and conduct a 3-day conference on agroforestry practices, research, and policies related to low-input, sustainable agriculture (LISA) in the mid-South states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. This conference will give innovative farmers, researchers, extension personnel and specialists from public and private institutions opportunities to:
(1) Share state-of-the-art information on LISA-related agroforestry concepts, research, and practices for the coastal plain, Mississippi Delta, and upland regions of the mid-South US.
(2) Promote agroforestry research and extension strategies, emphasizing multidisciplinary and collaborative activities.
(3) Discuss the economic and environmental benefits that low-input agroforestry strategies bring to farmers and rural environments.
(4) Examine policies affecting the development and adoption of LISA-compatible agroforestry technologies and programs.
(5) Encourage stronger programmatic emphasis on LISA-related agroforestry strategies by agricultural extension and forestry landowner assistance agencies in the mid-South states.
(6) Establish a mid-South Agroforestry Network to link farmers, researchers, extension personnel, non-governmental advisory agents, and policy makers involved in agroforestry.
(7) Improve communication through participation in a directory of agroforestry practitioners and researchers produced in association with the conference.